Environmental & Social Responsibility Mission

We welcome you to our beautiful country and invite you to join Hotel Makanda by the Sea on our mission to save and protect our natural resources. Costa Rica, as a leader in Eco-Travel, as well as the protection of the environment, encourages your participation and support in our goal to further the preservation of our endangered flora, fauna and natural resources. We kindly invite you to join Hotel Makanda by the Sea in supporting our goal to preserve our beautiful flora, fauna and natural resources. Our general mission at Makanda by the Sea is to assure that you experience the best vacation possible, having the confidence that you have positively contributed to the advancement of our community, its residents and our goal to protect the environment.At Makanda we encourage…..Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!

As a Sustainable and Environmentally friendly Hotel we...

Provide information to our guests and staff on the local environment and wildlife.

Educate our guests and staff on responsible interactions with the natural environment; not taking anything natural as a souvenir, staying on trails and causing damage to natural areas.

Provide large natural areas and biological corridors for wildlife throughout our property. We have reforested large areas and planted 10,000 endemic trees in the private reserve at Makanda, this is an ongoing project with no introduction of exotic species (plants not from Costa Rica).

Participate in local conservation efforts and support National parks and reserves. We run weekly beach clean ups and promote further environmental education and activities.

Not sell items made from endangered species, threatened species, corals or tropical hardwoods.

Respect local people, culture and traditions and promote and support local cultural events and activities. Our staff is comprised of members from only the surrounding local communities.

Support local businesses and suppliers wherever possible, his has two purposes, it supports local markets and also reduces the large carbon emissions associated with importation.

Not sell dishes in our restaurant made from endangered or threatened species, such as Marlin, Swordfish, Chilean Sea bass.

Reduce our water consumption as much as possible, educating our staff and guests on ways to conserve water. The hotel is implementing the use of water saving appliances such as water conserving toilets, as well as watering restrictions for gardeners and the use of indigenous plant species adapted to local weather conditions.

Reduce our energy consumption as much as possible, educating our staff and guests on ways to conserve energy. Makanda is implementing the use of energy saving appliances throughout the hotel.

Recycle, reuse and reduce our solid waste that we produce and use environmentally sound methods of rubbish disposal. We currently recycle all glass, aluminum and plastics. We compost all our organic kitchen and garden waste to use for planting and as a natural fertilizer.

Our administrative offices have converted to a paperless system as much as possible. Information is printed only as needed and all print paper is recycled to use both sides whenever possible.

Use certified biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning, kitchen and gardening products wherever possible to reduce or eliminate contamination of our ecosystems.

Tips for being an Eco Tourist - you can make a difference!

Enjoy nature but don’t chase, touch or feed any animals or birds; good practice is to observe wildlife quietly from a distance. We want wildlife to see Makanda and the Costa Rican Jungle as their home and need to make them welcome.

Please do not remove anything that is part of the natural environment - shells from the beach, seeds, plants and flowers.

In parks, reserves or natural areas, always stay on trails, do not drop trash or cause damage, unintentionally or otherwise. These above points are also National Park Regulations.

Please visit and support our National Parks and reserves, if using a guide, choose a ICT registered guide and urge your guides to act responsibly towards the environment.

Please help conserve water, easy ways are to turn off the faucet whilst brushing teeth, shorter showers, and reuse towels and linens. Did you know? Only 3% of the earths water is fresh water and only 1% is available to us, as the rest in polar ice caps or deep in the earth!

Please help conserve energy. Please turn off air-conditioning, fans and lights when leaving your room for the day. Did you know? 70% of greenhouse gas is produced through energy production, so by reducing our usage we can reduce global warming.

Please recycle. We recycle plastics, aluminum and glass throughout the hotel. We have recycling bins near reception for your use, or you may leave your recycling outside your door for collection.

Participate in local conservation and development activities and support established parks and reserves, please ask us how to be involved during your visit.

But your help does not stop here, there is more specific help you can give to the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, as well as the grounds of Makanda by the Sea, please read on!!

Although you might find the feeding of the monkeys (and other wild animals) to be a thrilling experience, you are not doing the monkeys a favor. In fact, your are actually harming them.

Here are 10 reasons why not to feed the monkeys

Monkeys are highly susceptible to diseases from human hands. They can die from bacteria transferred off your hand that has no ill effect on you.

Migrations to human-populated areas to be fed increases the risk of dog attacks and road accidents.

Irregular feeding leads to an aggressive behavior towards humans and other species.

Contrary to the stereotype, bananas are not the preferred food of monkeys in the wild. Bananas, especially those containing pesticides, can be upsetting to the monkeys’ delicate digestive system and cause serious dental problems that can lead to eventual death.

Feeding creates a dangerous dependency on humans that diminishes the monkeys’ survival abilities.

Feeding interferes with the monkeys’ natural habits and upsets the balance of their lifestyle centered on eating wild fruits, seeds, small animals and insects.

Contact with humans facilitates poaching and the trade in illegal wildlife.

Pregnant females who are fed nothing but bananas during their pregnancy will not give birth to healthy infants. The babies will be malnourished, or never develop to term, and die before birth.

Monkeys need to travel an average of 17 kilometers each day to be in good physical condition. If they know that food is available in a particular location, they will not leave that area.

Not only do we pass on diseases to animals when we feed them by hand, but they can pass diseases to us as well.

The monkeys do not realize this, but now you do! Please don’t facilitate the extinction of one of Nature’s most amazing creatures for your own pleasure. Find out more about saving the monkeys at www.kidssavingtherainforest.org, and please help us protect our 4 species of monkey in Costa Rica. The Titi (Squirrel), Capuchin (Whiteface), Howler monkeys and Spider Monkey, which are found along the Central Pacific coast and can be seen regularly at Makanda. (Only the Spider Monkey is not found in our area of Costa Rica.)